I ride the Amtrak once a month (Winter Park, FL to Winter Garden, FL) and railfan every chance I get.

The era I am interested in is no longer available, so I rail fan on the internet and at museums occasionally.

1. I actively financially contribute to preservation groups running the real thing
2. I am actively involved by operating the real thing in revenue freight and/or passenger service
3. I am actively involved in operating the real thing in preservation service. 

#3 above is me.

Love the real thing with all my heart, as well as models!!!! Only problem is getting time&transportation. Recently my favorite Railfanning area, the B&M conn river line, was updated, causing passenger trains to run at times when I have the time to go out, and eliminating my chances of seeing freights. All the same, I won't stop now! I'll just look elsewhere...

Some of my earliest memories are of trains running buy, and I grew up riding trains from Knoxville to Memphis (SOU), DC (SOU), Cincinnati (L&N), Chicago (L&N), Florida (L&N / ACL), Denver via Memphis, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis (CB&Q, CNW, UP, RI). Although I loved the transition era passenger service in the US, I have ridden almost every mile of AMTRAK runs, and I have ridden Via Rail from the East coast to the West coast. I have also had the opportunity to ride trains in Europe, Japan, India and New Zealand. I have hauled my family to every tourist railroad we accidentally passed on vacations, and I volunteered to work on the beasts at several operations like the B&O Railroad Museum. So I guess you could say that I have an interest in the real thing. Now I have to get back to cleaning up the 1:1 caboose at the museum before the open house on Sunday.

Now that I'm in Florida, all there are to ride and railfan are "broad gauge" (to ne who loves the SR&RL, 4' 8 1/2" is broad) of the modern era.  I'm a steam nut from teh first time I saw one at Edaville, and there's so little steam.  That said, seeing a modern manifest freight rumble by is wonderful. 

. . . heavy-duty modern railroading all day, and frankly, it's a great job except for the trains. (That's a joke, son.)

I guess that's why I prefer the quieter, non-signaled branchlines.

But when the signal bungalow I'm working in is trembling as a 50 mph, 15,000-ton coal train growls by 20 feet away, I still get a thrill.

would buy a seat on a railfan/excursion trip run by a preservation group that you wanted to extensively chase/photograph or that was running through the area that you model - even if you couldn't ride the train because you were chasing it or were too far away?  

Simple question huh? And the obvious answer is probably NO!!!! for most railfans, modellers and railway/railraod photographers.

But think about it a little deeper. That railway preservation group has gone to the trouble and the cost of organising this excursion trip. They have promoted the trip, prepared the locomotives and the carriages. They may have to purchase the path for the train and negotiate a suitable timetable to dodge competing passenger and freight traffic on the line that the excursion will run on without them becoming trapped in a siding for long periods while everything else jumps their queue. Even if they own and control their own tracks, those tracks and the rolling stock has to be maintained and operated in a safe manner. This all costs real money. 

The preservation group is gambling that there will be enough interest to fill enough seats on on that train. That is what pays their bills and enables the restoration, maintenance of that rail equipment and ensures the ongoing future of that preservation group that is actively modelling in 1:1 scale those items that circulate on our own smaller scale model railroads. If the trip goes out almost empty, then the preservation group has lost money, and then has less money to maintain what may be your favourite model locomotive/passenger car etc.  

For the modellers - Are you prepared to lose your favourite ??? in 1:1 scale and have it go to scrap? Or are you only concerned about your scale model being accurate? So what happens when there is nothing to measure against to determine "the required" level of accuracy for your model?

For the photographers - If you chase an excursion train and photograph the trip, what have you contributed to ensuring the future of those 1:1 scale items that may give you so much enjoyment in either photographic or model form?  So, lets say one of you photographs is published and you make some money out of it - Would you be prepared to send that preservation society a donation for making that money-earning photograph possible?

Some interesting questions? No?   

Last train I was on was the Amtrak Piedmont line Raleigh to Charlotte and return in 2010. The return was on the Gray Squirrel - a really nice ride. I've been on a few, including the one in TravelTown/Griffith Park CA (not the scale models - the real thing) in the 60s. I don't get enough of it - time and money prevents it - I have more time now, but less money.

In my adolescence I rode many times on the Pacific Electric trolleys, mid-town and high speed intra urban.

I hope to take Amtrak from L.A. to Portland for the 2015 NMRA, money permitting.

P.S.

When in the Army mid-fifties, I took the Santa Fe El Capitan (I believe that was the name) L.A. to Chicago and then the L&N to Louisville (final destination Fort Knox) and return 4 months later.

Your section of the poll is very timely. I think with the older railfans declining in health and no longer going on the excursions we will be seeing a dramatic decline in steam excursions. The younger crowd seems more interested in filming then riding. If we don't see enough interest in riding then funds to continue will dry up. So, Support those people that keep them running by purchasing a ticket and enjoy the ride.

We love putting on the events!

Robert Teed

Railyard Productions

30 minutes from Tehachapi, now I live 30 mins from UP's ex-CNW Overland Route.

That's too easy to answer! I like 1:1 model trains too! I like to ride them and I like them when they seem to be a model railroad layout as weel:

I don`t spend hours on end by the tracks waiting for trains to pass me.................I spent 9 months working for Strasburg RR in the backshops........I spent 20 + years in "Live Steam"...........I really don`t like steam anymore.........too much work and politics involved.

People say "take pictures now while you still can"..........why?.....too many other foamers are taking pics and posting them to the internet.......I can just look at those.

John:

A resounding "No"? Really? It is too bad that, as of today, 534 reads but less than 100 votes. Could it be the questions simply begs argument? Does so few people care?

Our meager little Laupahoehoe Train Museum is supported by visitors, for the most part, and not the people of the area where the standard gage Hawaii Consolidated Railway ran. It points to the American disinterest in preservation of our own history. That may be changing, however, with changing demographics.  Preservation of older buildings is now a state issue and heavy fines are accessed for the damage, destruction, or alteration of structures over 50 years old - especially if deemed "significant". Why wouldn't this apply to railways and other transportation items as well?

I hope others will spend equivalent to a freight car once a year to support their favorite proto-line or historical group. A little goes a long way. 

Neil Erickson, Hawaii

I have ridden the "train to paradise"  in PA and several fan trains in CT, VT, MA, NH,  & RI. I have spent 2 stays at the Tunnel Inn in  in the Altoona area. I have photos of many of NS Heritage Locos. Yes I like big trains. I watch some live feeds while I download images from the news groups.

Because then the working railroads wouldn't be able to change/modernize/fix anything without going through a government committee. Better to give the railroads some incentive to preserve their own physical plant.

pqe

@Neal - Preservation mandates very quickly get out of hand.  I have been involved in a not-for-profit that was in a historic building.  $75,000 to re-shake the roof to stop the water damage.  Would have been less than $10,000 for modern asphalt shingles.  Thankfully we managed to get a grant for about 1/2 of it, but that was still left us funding 3 to 4 times the modern cost of a new roof.  And then there was the $5,000 quote to restore one door.

It's one thing if it is a museum (which I have also served on the board of one).  But there are limits to what private individuals should be expected to spend to be able to simply continue using their own property.  In my opinion, as soon as the state mandates it, the state should foot the bill  for all incremental cost impacts.  If taxpayers are not willing to pay for it then their elected representatives should not mandate it.

-Ed

   Where I live I will chase the train. Have a great museum in the nearby town and have ridden the train. Use the ride to stake out the best spot for pictures and then on the next run be at that spot(s). Some trains are impossible to rail fan in some of the places along the route. In that case enjoy the ride but if it's local, or not, try to support it. My better half and I are going to conductor classes starting this week. Training runs for about 3-4 months in length. Oh boy, hit the rule books fo about the first 2 1/2 months and then on track training and then "THE TESTING". Wish us well!

I don't know how you can be a true "Model Railroader" without looking at real trains. I know there are modellers doing the 1880's or the 1920's or NG in a state a long way from them but watching trains gives me lots of ideas on things such as weathering and scenery. Apart from anything its fun and relaxing. I like to get away from the house for a couple of hours to read so I go down by the tracks take MRH or similar with me and relax. If no trains come by, so what, I have still enjoyed myself. There are 5 railroads within a half hour drive and all are interesting in their own way.

As for riding trains If I am near a museum sure I will ride it and take the family. They are not really into trains but they do like riding them. I haven't managed to ride an Amtrak train yet living in a dead zone for that. Nearest is in OK City so maybe I will manage it this year.

I will stop what I'm doing to watch a train pass by. I have traveled with Amtrak from Philly to Pittsburgh for the opportunity to pass over Horseshoe Curve. My wife and I have taken our grandchildren to visit Pennsylvania Railroad Museum in Altoona and Strasburg Railroad several times. My favorite amusement park trains are located at Knoebel's Amusement Resort in Elysburg, PA. They have two trains there, one of them is coal fired live steam.

Our Pere Marquette 1225 Return to Clare excursion coming March 14th in Owosso,Mi

http://railyardproductions.com for tickets

Do you mean in the dome car with a beverage in my hand? 

Or.....

Thomas Gasior